Patna High Court

Ranjan KumarversusThe State of Bihar

Decided: 12 January 2026
Disposal: BAIL GRANTED
Bench: NAWNEET KUMAR PANDEY

Holding

The court granted regular bail to the petitioner subject to bond and surety conditions.

Summary

The petitioner, Ranjan Kumar, was arrested in connection with a kidnapping case involving two minor girls, charged under IPC sections 363, 366(A), 34 and Section 8 of the POCSO Act. He contended that he was falsely implicated, noting that the victims’ statements recorded under Section 164 of the Cr.P.C. did not support the prosecution and that the informant later reported the girls had returned safely. Having been in custody for about eight months, the petitioner sought regular bail, asserting a clean antecedent. The State opposed the bail application. Considering the lack of corroborative victim testimony and the petitioner’s claim of innocence, the court granted bail on a bond of Rs.10,000 with two sureties, subject to conditions of appearance and cooperation in trial.

Issues considered

Whether regular bail should be granted to the accused in a kidnapping case involving minors and charges under the POCSO Act
Whether the victim statements and subsequent informant report justify release on bail

Legislation cited

Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 — s. 164
Indian Penal Code — s. 34, 363, 366A
Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 — s. 8

Subjects

regular bail
kidnapping
POCSO
IPC
Criminal Procedure
minor victims
bail conditions

Judgment

                      IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
                              CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.50588 of 2025
                        Arising Out of PS. Case No.-226 Year-2022 Thana- BELHAR District- Banka
                 ======================================================
                 Ranjan Kumar S/o Vishnudev Mandal Resident of Taraiya, P.S.- Belhar, Distt-
                 Banka                                            ... ... Petitioner/s
                                                Versus
           1.     The State of Bihar
           2.     Juli Kumari W/o Shashi Bhushan Kumar Sah R/o Vill- Belhar, P.S.- Belhar,
                  Distt- Banka
                                                                   ... ... Opposite Party/s
                 ======================================================
                 Appearance :
                 For the Petitioner/s     :       Mr. Dhananjay Kumar Pandey, Advocate
                 For the State            :       Mr. Shailendra Kumar, APP
                 ======================================================
                 CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE NAWNEET KUMAR
                 PANDEY
                                       ORAL ORDER

5   12-01-2026                          Heard learned counsel for the petitioner as well as

                   learned APP for the State.

                                    2. In this case, the petitioner is seeking regular bail in

                   connection with Belhar P.S. Case No. 226 of 2022, registered for the

                   offences punishable under Sections 363, 366(A), 34 of the IPC and

                   Section 8 of POCSO Act.

                                    3. As per allegation, all the FIR named accused persons

                   including this petitioner, kidnapped two minor daughters of the

                   informant with bad intention.

                                  4. The learned counsel for the petitioner has submitted

                   that the petitioner is innocent and has falsely been implicated in the

                   present case. It has further been submitted that statements of the

                   victims were recorded under Section 164 of the Cr.P.C., in which

                   they have not supported the prosecution case. When the informant
             Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.50588 of 2025(5) dt.12-01-2026
                                                         2/2




                       came to know the fact, she submitted a written report before the

                       police station, stating therein that her daughters had gone with her

                       friends and returned safe and sound. The petitioner is a person of

                       clean antecedent and is in custody since 17.05.2025 i.e. for near

                       about eight months.

                                     5. On the other hand, the learned APP for the State has

                       opposed the prayer for bail.

                                    6.    Considering       the    above-mentioned   facts   and

                       circumstances, let the petitioner above-named be released on bail on

                       furnishing bail bonds of Rs.10,000/- with two sureties of the like

                       amount each to the satisfaction of learned Additional Sessions Judge-

                       6-cum-Special Judge, POCSO, Banka in connection with Belhar P.S.

                       Case No. 226 of 2022, subject to the condition that the petitioner

                       shall cooperate in the disposal of trial and make himself available as

                       and when required by the court.

                                     7. The petitioner shall physically appear before the

                       learned court below on each and every date. In case of failure on

                       two consecutive dates, unless he is prevented by extremely

                       adverse circumstances, the learned court below will be at liberty

                       to cancel the bail bonds of the petitioner.


                                            (Nawneet Kumar Pandey, J)

priyanka/-

U      T

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